Understanding find out how to calculate the sq. ft of a home is crucial whether or not you’re shopping for, promoting, or renovating a house. Sq. footage determines property worth, tax assessments, and even how a lot flooring or paint you want. However measuring a house’s measurement isn’t all the time so simple as it appears. Some areas depend towards whole sq. footage, whereas others, like garages and unfinished basements, could not. For instance, in cities like San Francisco and Chicago, native constructing codes can affect what counts as livable house.
This Redfin information walks you thru find out how to measure sq. footage precisely and solutions frequent questions, like “Is a garage included in square footage?”
How is the sq. footage of a home calculated?
Sq. footage is usually measured following the ANSI (American Nationwide Requirements Institute) pointers, which offer a standardized technique to calculate house measurement. The ANSI methodology requires measuring the outside dimensions of the home, together with all completed, livable areas.
Right here’s the way it works:
Measure the outside: Professionals measure from the skin partitions to calculate whole sq. footage. Wall thickness is included within the whole however not subtracted.
Embody completed areas: Any heated, livable house that meets peak and accessibility necessities is counted. This contains principal dwelling areas, bedrooms, loos, and completed attics with not less than 7 ft of clearance.
Exclude non-livable areas: Garages, unfinished basements, and areas requiring you to go away the principle home should not included within the house’s sq. footage. Nonetheless, completed basements could also be famous individually in listings.
Measure every flooring individually: For multi-story properties, every degree’s livable house is measured and added collectively to find out the whole sq. footage.
Whereas ANSI pointers are extensively used, native actual property markets could have completely different guidelines. All the time examine regional rules to make sure correct measurements, particularly when itemizing or appraising a house.
4 easy steps to measure the sq. footage of your house
Step 1: Collect your instruments
To measure a house’s sq. footage, you’ll want:
A measuring tape or laser distance measurer
Pencil and paper (or a digital note-taking app)
Calculator
A laser measurer is particularly helpful for giant areas and gives extra exact measurements.
Step 2: Divide your house into measurable sections
As an alternative of making an attempt to measure all the home in a single go, break it into smaller, rectangular sections comparable to particular person rooms, hallways, and closets. This methodology minimizes errors and makes calculations simpler. For non-rectangular rooms (like L-shaped areas), divide them into smaller rectangles and measure individually.
Step 3: Measure every room’s dimensions
For every room or part, observe these steps:
Measure the size and width in ft.
Multiply the size by the width to get the sq. footage of that part.
For instance, if a bed room is 12 ft lengthy and 10 ft large, the calculation is:
12 x 10 = 120 sq. ft
You’ll then repeat this for each part of the home.
Step 4: Add up the sq. footage
When you’ve measured every part, add all of the values collectively to get the house’s whole sq. footage.
Instance of calculating the whole sq. ft of a home:
Room
Measurement (ft)
Sq. Toes
Lounge
15 × 20
300
Kitchen
10 × 15
150
Bed room 1
12 × 10
120
Bed room 2
12 × 12
144
Rest room
8 × 6
48
Hallways & closets
N/A
100
Complete sq. footage
–
862 sq. ft.
What counts in the direction of the sq. footage of a home?
Sq. footage usually contains completed, livable areas inside the house. Right here’s what normally counts and doesn’t depend in official measurements:
Included in sq. footage of a house:
✅ Completed bedrooms, dwelling rooms, kitchens, and loos✅ Heated and cooled areas (e.g., central HVAC or everlasting heating supply)✅ Completed basements (in the event that they meet livable house requirements)✅ Enclosed sunrooms (if heated and completed)
Not included in sq. footage of a house:
❌ Is a storage included in sq. footage? No, garages should not counted in sq. footage as a result of they don’t seem to be completed, livable areas.❌ Unfinished basements, even when enclosed❌ Attics or lofts that don’t meet peak necessities (usually not less than 7 ft excessive)❌ Porches, decks, and patios (until enclosed and heated)
Test native pointers
Should you’re promoting a house, examine native actual property pointers, as definitions of “livable square footage” can range.
For example, properties in Los Angeles have particular guidelines for measuring livable house, notably with regards to balconies, garages, or basements, which might not be counted within the whole sq. footage until they’re absolutely completed. NYC has stringent constructing codes that differentiate between “habitable” and “non-habitable” areas, which means sure rooms or areas won’t depend towards the whole sq. footage in the event that they don’t meet particular standards (like home windows or ceiling peak). And in Seattle, the foundations round livable sq. footage could also be influenced by zoning legal guidelines and constructing permits, with sure areas like lofts or small upstairs rooms being counted otherwise from normal dwelling areas.
The right way to measure irregular-shaped properties and areas
If your house isn’t a easy rectangle, don’t fear. You may nonetheless measure the sq. footage of your house, however you’ll have to make use of a number of completely different strategies.
L-shaped areas: Divide them into two rectangles, measure individually, and add their sq. footage.
Triangular areas: Measure the bottom and peak, then use the system:
(Base×Peak)/2
Round areas (like turrets or spherical rooms): Measure the diameter (the space throughout the circle via its heart), then divide the diameter by 2 to get the radius. Then use the system:
π×r2
The right way to measure multi-story properties
Every degree needs to be measured individually and added collectively. The whole sq. footage contains all completed areas throughout all flooring however excludes unfinished attics and basements.
The right way to measure open flooring plans
For open-concept areas with out clear room divisions:
Measure the total size and width of the open space.
Subtract areas not included within the livable house (e.g., stairwells, unheated sunrooms).
Why correct sq. footage issues
Understanding find out how to measure sq. footage appropriately is essential for:
Actual property listings: Consumers evaluate properties primarily based on worth per sq. foot.
Residence value determinations: Sq. footage impacts property worth.
Renovations: Understanding the precise dimensions helps with supplies and budgeting.
Property taxes: Native governments assess taxes primarily based on your house’s sq. footage.
Sq. footage performs a crucial function in a house’s worth, so each patrons and sellers ought to make sure the quantity is correct. Even small discrepancies can impression house pricing, value determinations, and purchaser negotiations. Right here’s what every celebration ought to think about:
For sellers: keep away from overstating or understating your house’s measurement
Confirm, don’t assume: Even in case you have builder flooring plans, the as-built sq. footage can differ from the unique designs attributable to adjustments made throughout building. All the time measure independently or rent knowledgeable appraiser.
Keep away from pricing pitfalls: Itemizing your house with incorrect sq. footage can result in mispricing, which could scare off patrons in the event that they later discover discrepancies throughout an appraisal or inspection.
Authorized and moral issues: Misrepresenting sq. footage (even unintentionally) might result in authorized disputes or purchaser calls for for a lower cost. Some states have disclosure legal guidelines requiring sellers to offer correct house measurements.
For patrons: don’t rely solely on itemizing numbers
Test the measurements: Actual property listings typically pull sq. footage from tax data, which might not be up to date or correct. Ask for current value determinations or measure the house your self.
Know what’s included: Some listings could embrace non-livable areas like completed basements, sunrooms, or enclosed patios within the whole sq. footage. Affirm what’s counted, particularly in states the place guidelines differ.
Appraisal discrepancies can have an effect on financing: If the appraiser measures a decrease sq. footage than what’s listed, it might impression mortgage approval and residential worth assessments, resulting in renegotiations.